Page 56 of Chaos

“Alexei, please. I have to go.” I grab his arm and tug him to follow me.

Pushing through the front of the club, we jump in his car and ride in silence.

“She must be something.” His accent is thicker when he isn’t talking smack. “Nikolai always says women are a distraction. But—” He pauses and turns to me, wagging his finger. “—don’t forget he married first.”

Blood is spattered over his neck and jaw, yet he’s giving me relationship advice.

He slams the brakes, lurching us both forward.

“I’ll cover your rounds this week. That waitress in Vox is hot as fuck, anyway.” His hand sticks out of the driver’s window and flips me off as he speeds away.

Crazy ass, but he means well.

My phone pinpoints her location.

Getting to Sofia is all I can think about as I wind my way through the streets of Vegas.

I just hope Brody hasn’t gotten to her first.

TWENTY-NINE

JAX

“Sof, I’m not here just to be your personal babysitter.” Anna stands over me with her hands on her hips. “I have shit to do, too. Is it a stretch to think maybe I have a date tonight? She isn’t my kid.”

“You have plans? Sorry, I didn’t know it was a secret.” My voice comes out a little cranky, because I am.

The daycare called at the last minute and said they were full for this evening. They’ve been at capacity with a huge convention being in town and everyone working extra shifts.

Including me.

“Well, maybe I do.” Her tone softens as she leans against the counter. “It’s just exhausting always worrying about who’s going to take care of her, ya know?”

“Um. Yeah. I get that. I’m her mom. Look, I’ll call Mrs. Wilson. She told me that if I get in a pinch, she’d watch Maeve. So go have fun.”

She’s right. She isn’t responsible for my daughter. Anna already helps so much.

I just wish she had warned me. But, she’s been acting kinda weird lately, more distant.

There’s a little knot in my belly that tells me something isn’t quite right, but I don’t know what.

“Fine,” she says with a dramatic sigh. “I’ll pick her up when I’m done. But, next time, some warning?” Anna says before disappearing into her room.

Sure.

“Come on, baby girl. Aunty Anna is busy. Let’s get that nice old lady on the phone.” I pick up Maeve and carry her to my bed, letting her crawl around on the comforter as I make the call.

Thank God she says yes.

Mrs. Wilson lives four doors down and is standing outside of her door in the warm evening breeze when I show up.

“Thank you again so much!” Sliding the diaper bag from my shoulder, I hand it to her first before Maeve.

“Oh, honey. I know how it goes! I raised four babies. Sometimes things just happen.” Her kind smile is framed by curly gray hair.

A brown-eyed toddler runs up and hugs her knees from behind.

She laughs. “This is my grandson, Nate. He is excited to have a baby in the house tonight.”